Messages - greygoose625

Often I hear acoustic guitarist squeak. Many cross over from electric view as natural sound associated with acoustic guitar and become deaf to the squeak.

The winding on lite gauge strings is finer and lessens the squeak and some spray Finger Ease on the strings......that helps.......but doesn't address the squeak.

There are three causes for squeak: changing position squeak caused by leaving your fingers on the wound strings while moving up & down the neck....simply lift your fingers off of the strings when changing positions......the silence is less noticable than the squeak and with practice the silence becomes less.

Next squeak is the take off squeak: caused by starting a position change before the fingers are off of the strings.......simply lift finger up before moving.

The third is the shift squeak: holding a chord or a particial chord down while moving remaing fingers to other tones: this is the most difficult but the softer squeak of the three. Being aware and not let the anchored fingers shift can reduce the squeak.

I will not address right hand fingering at this time.

Your Washburn guitar is a good sounding guitar and with skill it can sound great.........hope this helps..........Jane Against Squeaks......janeguitar.com

The first step I used was to be able to play my peice a few times in a row without making mistakes. After that was accomplished I performed for a friend and paid attention to what happened. I corrected what went wrong in practice and tried again on a different friend. Then notch it up a little and play for a small group of friends continue this process to your goal.

One has to realize it's a learning process and everytime you step-up a notch you move out of your comfort zone and start the process over. Don't put unrealstic goals on yourself and don't expect to discovered or popular because of a performance.

When I do a performance....whether I get a standing ovation or get boos I still go home and have to feed my cat.......most people don't get that excited about the performance.....I'm climbing a ladder.......one step at a time.

I find people will BS me trying to impress that they know more than I ......that's fine.....from experience the people that know more encourage and help while the BS dudes are all talk. I've found comfort with the come back where somebody may say. I noticed you played that wrong. I say That's true, the guitar is a difficult instrument.

If you use a step plan and keep notching up and hang in there as time passes those moments before the program will be enjoyable.....my first formal concert was as frightful as going to get my head chopped off and weeks before the concert I was scared silly.

I still get a little nervous now before walking on stage......but that's normal because I care and that's what makes it rewarding.......janeguitar.com

A lady gave me a 72 Martin 12 string.......been in the case and looks new. I can't play it because I play a nylon string guitar and the tension with 12 lite gauge strings and the closeness of the pairs are to difficult for me. I tune 1 step down and capo 2nd fret and I can bang out chords, but can't play anything.

If you've never played a 12 string the difference from a 6 string may be a deal breaker for you. Having it left handed may make you buy it to try it out. That's a tough spot.....good luck.....janeguitar.com

Hi there music chick. One could take it to a guitar store and visually compair the diameter of the strings. An experienced guitar dude at a music store should be able to get a set that will be a good selection for that guitar.......janeguitar.com

I woke up Sunday on my birthday and decided I needed to fly a gyro coptor.....that was like flying on a broom....exciting......but my first love is the guitar and after 50 years my regret is there not another 50 years left in me to keep learning.

I've had guns pointed at me in bars, fires on stage.....you name it and it's happened while performing.......that guitar's taken me to Italy, Hawaii, and California. I've taught and played in rock bands, country to classical concerts. I've stood a few feet in front of Jimmy Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Les Paul, Carlos Montoya and John Williams while they played.

I get it and I know and understand the attraction to that guitar......I've had to fight on my own to find my way.....studying at 3 in the morning inside the mini van in the garage....in the car while kids had little league.......I've been discouraged, put down, and threatened.......you name it....it's happened.

I hung in there and thought if I only could play.....I took the trouble to learn music and it paid off........my confidence grew when at 19 I was playing enough to learn to fly and buy an airplane and I still fly and own an airplane.....that's a nother story.

All of my band buddies don't play anymore........they just played rock by ear and as life pulled them away from the guitar they let go. I never thought of myself as an artist....but I never fit in.....in the aviation community and music community.......I not interested in tech stuff and only care to learn more and perform better.

I've not owned many guitars.....my guitar show's wear on the fingerboard and I think the frets will need replacing in a few more years.......but I've played that guitar 29 years and only had to have a brace re-glued one time.

The guitar has made life wonderful......I hope to be playing the last day I'm alive......I love it that much.......janeguitar.com

The heavy the guage of strings the more tension it takes to pull up to standard pitch.....takes more energy to set them in motion and more pressure to finger. The string will sound bigger. If going to a higher tension than the guitar currently uses the truss rod may need adjusting to compensate the greater tension on the neck.

I always like lite gauge with a wound third......they sound nice when playing chords and are easy to finger....for me the better sound from easier playing is more of an advantage from the higher tension string.

But I'm inclined to use a similar guage the manufacter put on the guitar.

Anywho...........use what works best for you.......you're the boss........keep playing and welcome ....... I've admired some Taylor guitars before.......have a friend with carbon fiber guitar and was amazed with the fingering and sound......one of my guitars has a cedar top......nice.....love the smell too.........best wishes...janeguitar.com

I do not teach classical to all my students.....I would require a classical student to use a classical guitar and hold the guitar using a foot rest.

How to hold the guitar woud be decided with the type of guitar and the music the student wants to play. I am very open to different typs of music.......I played lead guitar in my high school rock band and did a stint playing bass in a country band...... I teach different styles...even though I perform only classical.....how ever I do choose not to teach students not interested in reading music and learning some theory.

Even if the student does not read music after the lessons the student should understand enough theory to know how to build chords and know what the principal chords are for each key........janeguitar.com

I've heard a lot about using or not using a teacher, but not about selection.

To find a teacher it's good to understand what you want to play..............some students just want to learn a little to amuse them self.........some to jam with friends...........and some to have a career. Some teachers use tablature and some teach reading. The serious students that are interested in a formal education in music should learn to read music. It's not unusual to find country, folk, blues & rockers don't read music.

Find a teacher that teaches.................not a show-off..............not somebody that talkes beyond your level.

Some teachers dump material on students faster than the lesson material can be understood........often the student goes through a few books and can't play anything.

I always talk to a student before I accept them or they choose me......and I won't teach the ones that are not interested in reading music or learning the fundamentals..........I require my students to use a metronome........I teach music and will not compromise what I believe is the best way to teach........but this not for everybody.

There are students that don't want the formal way and if they understand the difference that's fine too.....they need to find a teacher that will teach that way.

The goal is to get the student to enjoy playing guitar.........as a teacher it's my goal to keep my students interest alive and give them the kowledge so they can reach their goals.

A different cause, but I've always a problem with oders from my equipment.....back in the days when everybody smoked my guitars turned yellow and smelled like smoke. Now I've be playing in an Italian resturant and my equipment smells Italian. It's so strong my car and airplane both keep the smell long after my equipment is removed.

I use air fresheners and spray a small perfume in my guitar case.......I play my guitar full-time.....I take very good care of my Washburn Hauser & Jose Rameriz and over the years they will show the use......janeguitar.com

Nice guitar.....good luck with learning. Be careful as not to injure your hand trying to build up strength........often flat fingering or placing the finger to far from the fret is the problem.........the older you are the easier it is for injury.......janeguitar.com

When you look at guitars in a store you are in charge and you play what you please. I do not hesitate to ask to take the guitar to a private and quite area......if I do not get the consideration I demand I'll go else where......janeguitar.com